A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Friday, December
28, 2018
Lure Lake in North Carolina with the Blue Ridge Mountains in the background.
Have
you ever received a gift
you would describe as
"indescribable"?
Marketers and
advertisers would like
to create this illusion.
An ad we see at this
time is a wife
surprising her husband
(or vice versa) with a
new luxury car often
with a bow on top. He or
she looks genuinely
surprised and pleased
but after 42 years of
marriage we really can't
imagine surprising one
another with a car!
Whatever it is, like all
gifts, in time this new
car will get old, the
excitement will diminish
and then something new
will be needed.
What is our response to these gifts? Some will likely be returned. Today will be another very busy shopping day with many returned items and the "after-Christmas sales". Other gifts will soon be forgotten. Others are appreciated but will wear out or break in a relatively short time. And there will be a few that we cherish for many years, perhaps our entire life. Some might even be passed down to our children and be meaningful to them.
But no gift we receive on this earth even remotely compares to the spiritual gift of our Lord Jesus Christ, the gift we can all receive and share regardless of where we live or how much of this world's possessions we have or don't have. Jesus Christ is certainly the greatest Gift and deserving of our highest thanks!
Paul
concludes a section in
his second letter to the
Corinthian believers by
expressing appreciation
to them for abounding in
good works and for their
generosity in supplying
the financial gifts
needed by the Jerusalem
believers. He concludes
his expression of thanks
with today's marvelous
exclamation of
thankfulness, "Thanks
be to God for His
indescribable gift!"
Many years earlier Paul
had been converted and
had moved from an
attitude of hateful
rejection to grateful
acceptance of God's gift
of salvation through
Christ. Through the
years his gratitude to
God grew and that's the
way it should be for all
of us.
In this burst of praise he uses a very interesting Greek word to describe the gift. Linguists use the term hapax legomenon to describe a word that appears only once in a manuscript. The Greek word "anekdiēgētō" which is translated "indescribable" is used only once by Paul in all his writings. It essentially means, "not expounded in full." Other versions use phrases such as "beyond telling", "inexpressible", and "unspeakable". One words it this way; "a gift too wonderful for words!"
Indeed that is the case with God's greatest gift, a gift too wonderful for words, but deserving of our highest thanks. Today and each day let us join with Paul in thanking God for His truly indescribable gift of salvation through Christ Jesus our Lord!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, You gave first
and foremost as you
selflessly gave of
Yourself through the
person of Jesus
Christ. Your gift of
grace exceeds human
description, for the
far-reaching effects
in our lives is truly
indescribable. It's
too wonderful for
words, but it brings
unspeakable joy and
glorious hope that
makes our spiritual
journey so worthwhile.
We receive Your
indescribable gift
that brings
forgiveness for our
sins and reserves for
us a home in heaven
for all eternity.
Thank You,
Father!
Amen.
Lure Lake in North Carolina with the Blue Ridge Mountains in the background.
"The
Indescribable Gift!"
Message
summary: God's
greatest gift is a gift
too wonderful for words,
but deserving of our
highest thanks. Today
and each day let us join
with Paul in thanking
God for His truly
indescribable gift of
salvation through Christ
Jesus our Lord!
Listen to our message on your audio player.
Listen to our message on your audio player.
"Thanks be
to God for His
indescribable gift!"
(2 Corinthians 9:15).
Many of us
gave and received gifts
at Christmas, a custom
that for many is the
main thing. The origin
of giving gifts (at
least in the Christian
sense) probably goes
back to the gifts the
Magi presented to the
baby Jesus.
Have
you ever received a gift
you would describe as
"indescribable"?
Marketers and
advertisers would like
to create this illusion.
An ad we see at this
time is a wife
surprising her husband
(or vice versa) with a
new luxury car often
with a bow on top. He or
she looks genuinely
surprised and pleased
but after 42 years of
marriage we really can't
imagine surprising one
another with a car!
Whatever it is, like all
gifts, in time this new
car will get old, the
excitement will diminish
and then something new
will be needed.What is our response to these gifts? Some will likely be returned. Today will be another very busy shopping day with many returned items and the "after-Christmas sales". Other gifts will soon be forgotten. Others are appreciated but will wear out or break in a relatively short time. And there will be a few that we cherish for many years, perhaps our entire life. Some might even be passed down to our children and be meaningful to them.
But no gift we receive on this earth even remotely compares to the spiritual gift of our Lord Jesus Christ, the gift we can all receive and share regardless of where we live or how much of this world's possessions we have or don't have. Jesus Christ is certainly the greatest Gift and deserving of our highest thanks!
Paul
concludes a section in
his second letter to the
Corinthian believers by
expressing appreciation
to them for abounding in
good works and for their
generosity in supplying
the financial gifts
needed by the Jerusalem
believers. He concludes
his expression of thanks
with today's marvelous
exclamation of
thankfulness, "Thanks
be to God for His
indescribable gift!"
Many years earlier Paul
had been converted and
had moved from an
attitude of hateful
rejection to grateful
acceptance of God's gift
of salvation through
Christ. Through the
years his gratitude to
God grew and that's the
way it should be for all
of us.In this burst of praise he uses a very interesting Greek word to describe the gift. Linguists use the term hapax legomenon to describe a word that appears only once in a manuscript. The Greek word "anekdiēgētō" which is translated "indescribable" is used only once by Paul in all his writings. It essentially means, "not expounded in full." Other versions use phrases such as "beyond telling", "inexpressible", and "unspeakable". One words it this way; "a gift too wonderful for words!"
Indeed that is the case with God's greatest gift, a gift too wonderful for words, but deserving of our highest thanks. Today and each day let us join with Paul in thanking God for His truly indescribable gift of salvation through Christ Jesus our Lord!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, You gave first
and foremost as you
selflessly gave of
Yourself through the
person of Jesus
Christ. Your gift of
grace exceeds human
description, for the
far-reaching effects
in our lives is truly
indescribable. It's
too wonderful for
words, but it brings
unspeakable joy and
glorious hope that
makes our spiritual
journey so worthwhile.
We receive Your
indescribable gift
that brings
forgiveness for our
sins and reserves for
us a home in heaven
for all eternity.
Thank You,
Father!
Amen. Special
Year-end Financial Appeal
We want to thank all who
have financially supported our
ministry this past year (and some for
many years!). We realize there are many
fine ministries and causes requesting
support at this time but if the Lord
would lead you we surely need and
appreciate the financial support from
our readers and listeners. Like
many ministries, we typically see a
spike in giving at the end of the year
for which we are most thankful.
Our ministry labor is comprised of approximately half our time to Daily Encouragement and the other half to our chaplaincy ministry to companies for which we receive compensation. Each of these ministries essentially is the same as a part-time job (20+ hours weekly) for each of us. Our goal for many years is that each would provide half of our ministry expenses and income.
If you would like to consider making a donation to our ministry see here for more information.
To donate directly online here. This will open to a page that designates the offering to: WEBER,STEPHEN CHAP, Specialized Chaplaincy Ministry ID: 700001-237376
Please Note:
We also provide this easy option due
to the convenience, for
international supporters, and for
those who may not be concerned
regarding receiving an official tax
deductible receipt.
Click here
to send an offering using PayPal.
This will open to a page that states
"Brooksyne Weber"
Thank you
Our ministry labor is comprised of approximately half our time to Daily Encouragement and the other half to our chaplaincy ministry to companies for which we receive compensation. Each of these ministries essentially is the same as a part-time job (20+ hours weekly) for each of us. Our goal for many years is that each would provide half of our ministry expenses and income.
If you would like to consider making a donation to our ministry see here for more information.
To donate directly online here. This will open to a page that designates the offering to: WEBER,STEPHEN CHAP, Specialized Chaplaincy Ministry ID: 700001-237376
Please Note:
We also provide this easy option due
to the convenience, for
international supporters, and for
those who may not be concerned
regarding receiving an official tax
deductible receipt.
Click here
to send an offering using PayPal.
This will open to a page that states
"Brooksyne Weber"Thank you
Stephen
& Brooksyne
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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